ALCALÁ ALBERT, GREGORIO JESÚS, Marlen Aldana-de Becerra, Gloria , Jose Sanchez-Uzcategui, Eduardo , Hernandez-Ascanio, Jose , Elena Parra-Gonzalez, Maria
No
Healthcare
Article
Científica
1
2
19/05/2026
1,77469E+12
Highlights What are the main findings? High burnout was observed in both EMT students and practising EMT professionals, based on instrument-specific thresholds, with no statistically significant between-group difference detected. In the exploratory adjusted model, age was associated with high burnout, whereas professional status and sex were not significant correlates. What are the implications of the main findings? The findings may support the inclusion of early psychosocial risk assessment and support strategies during EMT training, particularly before and during clinical placements. EMS organisations and educational institutions could use these exploratory findings to inform coordinated approaches to workforce well-being, occupational health, and healthcare workforce sustainability.Highlights What are the main findings? High burnout was observed in both EMT students and practising EMT professionals, based on instrument-specific thresholds, with no statistically significant between-group difference detected. In the exploratory adjusted model, age was associated with high burnout, whereas professional status and sex were not significant correlates. What are the implications of the main findings? The findings may support the inclusion of early psychosocial risk assessment and support strategies during EMT training, particularly before and during clinical placements. EMS organisations and educational institutions could use these exploratory findings to inform coordinated approaches to workforce well-being, occupational health, and healthcare workforce sustainability.Abstract Background: Burnout is a relevant occupational health concern in Emergency Medical Services (EMSs), with potential implications for workforce well-being, occupational health, and the sustainability of prehospital care. Although burnout has been widely studied among healthcare professionals, evidence concerning Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students remains limited. This exploratory study aimed to estimate high burnout prevalence among EMT students and practising EMT professionals in Madrid, Spain, describe burnout dimensions in both groups, and examine sociodemographic correlates of high burnout status. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted between March and June 2024 using a convenience sample of 85 participants: 43 EMT students and 42 practising EMT professionals. Burnout was assessed using validated Spanish versions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: the MBI-SS for students and the MBI-HSS for professionals. Because these instruments are population-specific and rely on different norms and thresholds, between-group comparisons of raw scores were interpreted as exploratory. Descriptive analyses, between-group comparisons with effect sizes, correlation analyses, and an exploratory binary logistic regression model were performed. Results: High burnout was identified in 22 EMT students (51.2%) and 23 practising EMT professionals (54.8%), with no statistically significant between-group difference detected (p = 0.73; Cramer's V = 0.04). Between-group comparisons of burnout dimensions showed small effect sizes for Emotional Exhaustion (Cohen's d = 0.17), Depersonalisation (Cohen's d = 0.24), and Personal Accomplishment (Cohen's d = -0.26). Age was positively associated with Emotional Exhaustion (r = 0.29, p = 0.008) and Depersonalisation (r = 0.24, p = 0.028), and negatively associated with Personal Accomplishment (r = -0.26, p = 0.019). In the exploratory adjusted logistic regression model, age was associated with high burnout status (OR = 1. 05; 95% CI 1.01-1.10; p = 0.017), whereas group and sex were not significant correlates. Conclusions: High burnout levels were observed in both EMT students and practising EMT professionals in this regional exploratory sample. However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the cross-sectional design, convenience sampling, modest sample size, limited statistical power, and use of population-specific burnout instruments. These results suggest that burnout-related distress may be relevant across the EMT training-to-practice pathway and support the need for larger longitudinal and multicentre studies incorporating occupational, educational, and organisational variables.
burnout; emergency medical technicians; emergency medical services; occupational health; healthcare workforce; workforce sustainability; prehospital care; students; psychological distress